Clam shell bucket



g- 1961 R. H. BOWMAN ET AL 2,996,819

' CLAM SHELL BUCKET 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 14, 1958 JOHNSON 59 INVENTORS RAYMOND H. BOWMAN ELWOOD R.

Aug. 22, 1961 Filed April 14, 1958 R. H. BOWMAN ET AL CLAM SHELL BUCKET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2

I N V EN TORS RAYMONDH. BOWMAN BY ELWOOD R- JOHNSON MMQ f United States Patent 2,996,819 CLAM SHELL BUCKET Raymond H. Bowman and Eiwood R. Johnson, Erie, Pa.,

assignors to Erie Strayer Company, Erie, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Apr. 14, 1958, Ser. No. 728,257 7 Claims. (Cl. 37-184) 7 This invention relates to hoisting buckets such as a clam shell or other type of grab bucket and, more particularly, to the particular kind of bucket frequently known in the trade as a shipstackle bucket.

In the past, ships tackle buckets have used a plunger type striking plate which tripped the locking latch. This old type plunger could not be attached solidly to the bucket structure and was subject to bending and breaking. The new hinged or pivoted type of striking plate disclosed herein relieves the plunger of the effect of most of the destructive forces encountered in use and ensures that the striking plate returns to the same position at the start of each cycle.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a ships tackle bucket in combination with a striking plate release mechanism having a hinged or pivoted type connection to the bucket with a pinguide on the opposite side of the bucket from the pivotal connection. This arrangement of the striking plate produces great stability during the operation and improves the operation of the bucket.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clam shell bucket having a centrally transversely located striking plate as a part of the locking mechanism of the bucket which produces better stability during the digging cycle of the bucket.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a clam shell bucket having an improved adjustable striking plate adjustable for different weights and consistencies of material being handled.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved latching mechanism for a clam shell bucket Wherein all parts of the latching mechanism except the latch itself are housed below the lever arm barrel when the bucket is in closed position. This makes the attachment adaptable to almost any type of clam shell bucket presently commercially available.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a clam shell bucket which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simple and efficient in operation.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an outline view of a ships tackle bucket being used to transfer cargo material from a ships hold to the hopper of a receiving device;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detailed view of the bucket which constitutes the subject matter of this invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the latching mechanism according to the invention; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top view of the latching mechanism.

Now with more specific reference to the drawings, a bucket in FIG. 1 is shown in three different positions A, B, and C connected by the lines shown in phantom to indicate that the same bucket is shown in three differ- Patented Aug. 22, 1961 cut positions. The bucket 10 is shown in position A in a hold 11 of the ship with the bucket 10 in open position ready to close on cargo material 12. The bucket 10 is shown in position B loaded, being swung from the hold 11 toward a hopper 13. In position C, the bucket 10 is shown open and discharging its material into the hopper 13 with material 14.

The bucket 10 shown in FIG. 1 is of the type commonly known as a two-line ships tackle type of bucket. The hopper 13 is supported on a frame 15 which rests on a foundation 16 supported on a surface 17. Supported on the frame 15 is a fixed boom 18 attached to the frame of the hopper 13 at 19 and having a pulley 20 supported on the upper end thereof at 21.

A swingable hopper boom 22 is swingably supported on the hopper 13 at 23 and has a movable hopper boom line 24 attached at 25 to the upper end thereof. The line 24 extends around the pulley 20* to a suitable winch (not shown) connected to an end 40 so that the angular relation of the swingable boom 22 can be changed with regard to the hopper 13 by taking in or paying out line from the winch attached to an end 30 in order to place the bucket 10 in the desired position either in the hold 11 of the ship or in the hopper 13.

A pulley 27 is fixed to the upper end of the boom 22 at 28. A holding line 29 extends around the pulley 27 and is attached at one end to the bucket 10 at 5% and the other end of the holding line 29 indicated at 30 extends to a suitable Winch for controlling the position of the bucket 10 relative to the ships hold 11 or the hopper 13. The line 29 shown in its two other positions is in dicated at 29' and 29".

A ships mast 32 is fixed to the ship at its lower end at 33 and has a pulley 34 attached thereto at 35. A ship boom 36 is swingably attached to a cross arm 37 at 38 and has a pulley 39 attached to its upper distal end at 41.

A closing line 43 has its end 44 attached to the bucket 10 and passes around a sheave 53 and is indicated for several positions corresponding to positions A, B, and C of the bucket 10 by numerals 43' and 43" as shown. The line 43 passes over the pulley 39 and its end 44 is con nected to and driven by a suitable winch attached to an end 144 to pay out and to retract.

A ship boom line 47 is attached to the ship boom 36 at 48 and extends around the pulley 34. An end 419 is attached to a winch whereby the line 47 can be drawn in to bring the end attached at 48 toward the mast 32 or the line 47 can be payed out to allow the boom 36 to swing away from the mast 32.

The bucket ltl is shown partially in enlarged detail in FIG. 2 and in partial enlarged detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. The reason for having the latching mechanism on the bucket 10 is that the operator, from his position at the controls of the various winches or operating mechanisms for the boom, cannot see into the hold 11 of the ship from his station. Therefore, the operator is unable to determine whether or not the bucket 10 is getting a full load when the closing line is taken in. The locking mechanism which locks the bucket 10 in open position on its descent into the hold -11 and automatically causes the bucket 10 to close when it engages the material therefore ensures a reasonable load on every dip of the bucket 10.

The bucket 11] shown in some detail in FIG. 2 has bucket halves and 111 swingably connected together by a pin 56 which extends through arms 58 and 5) at both sides of the bucket.

The clam shell bucket is of the same general type as that described in Patent Nos. 1,794,257 and 2,189,665; however, the bucket in the present application is of the two line type which has the holding line 29 fixedly attached thereto at 50 which may be attached by means of a suitable clevis arrangement so that there is no relative movement between the holding line 29 and the bucket 10. The closing line 43 has one end thereof attached to a head 52 of the bucket and the line 43 extends around the sheave 53 and on up around the pulley 39 as shown.

The sheave 53 is fixed by means of bracket plates 54 to sleeves 55. The sleeves 55 are concentrically disposed around the trunnion pins 56 and arms 58 and 59 on jaw or bucket members 58 and 59 are pivotally connected by the trunnion pins 56. The sleeves 55 are welded to the arms 59 at their outer ends and to the bracket plate 54 at their inner ends. Front and rear links 61 are fixed to brackets 63 by bolts 66 and a link 64 is swingably c011- nected to the bracket 63 by a pin 65. A rear link 60 is also swingably connected to the pin 65. The bucket members 58 and 59 and the arms 58 and 59 are held in spaced relation to each other by means of the sleeves 55.

When the bucket members 58 and 59 are in position A shown in FIG. 1, they are held with their leading edges swung apart. The bucket 10 is held closed when the closing line 43 has a tension thereon. This applies a force on the sheave 53 in a direction toward the pin 65 since the closing line 43 has its end attached to the head 52 and is moved around the sheave 53.

The locking mechanism for holding the bucket 10 open is made up of a hook 70, a lug 106, and a pin 89. The hook 76 is swingably connected to the arm 58' by means of a pin 71 to brackets 72 which are in turn integrally attached to the arm 58'. A trip arm 74 is swingably connected to the arm 59 by means of a pin 75 and brackets 76 which are in turn integrally connected to the arm 59 on the opposite side of the bucket from the brackets 72. Striking plates 78 and 79 are made up of angles having vertically disposed legs 80 and 81 and horizontally disposed legs 86 and 87. The legs 86 and 87 are integrally attached to the legs 80 and 81, respectively. The legs 80 and 81 are vertically disposed and the legs 86 and 87 are horizontally disposed when the bucket is in open position as shown in FIG. 1. The leg members 80 and 81 are attached to the arm 74 by means of bolts 83. Adjustment is accomplished by having a plurality of vertically arranged holes 80 in the legs 80 and 81 for receiving the bolts 83 so that the plates 78 and 79 can be adjusted up and down to adjust the position of the bucket 10 when it is tripped on its downward movement and, therefore, regulate the trip action based on the density of the material being loaded.

The pin or push rod 89 is welded to the arm 74 at 99 and extends therefrom through guide plates 92. The guide plates 92 are welded to the members 59'. When the bucket 10 is in the open position shown at the left hand side of FIG. 1; that is, being lowered into the ships hold 11, the bucket members 58 and 59 are disposed in the relation shown in FIG. 3 and the hook 70 is in engagement with the lug 100 holding the bucket members 58 and 59 open. The lug 100 is welded to plates 99 which are welded to one of the bucket members 59. The bucket members 58 and 59 are thus held in openposition as shown in FIG. 1 in positions A and C.

As the bucket 10 is lowered into the hold 11 and as the leading edges of the bucket 10 sink into the material while the bucket 10 is in the open position, the striking.

plates 78 and 79 engage the top of the material 12 and as the bucket members 58. and 59 continue to sink into the material, the arm 74 is forced by the material to swing upwardly, pushing the pin 89 upwardly until its upper end 101 engages a lug 102 on the hook 70. As the bucket members 58 and 59 continue to sink, the pin 89 continues to push the hook 70 up and causes it to swing around its pivot 71 toremove it from engagement with the lug 100, thereby releasing the bucket members 58 and 59 so they can swing toward each other. Then as the winch attached to the closing line 43 exerts a force on the line.

43, the line 43 reeved around the sheave 53 exerts an upward force thereon, pulling the pins 56 upwardly and cansing the bucket members 58 and 59 to swing toward each other, closing the bucket 10.

It will be noted that the arm 74 extends generally parallel to the pins 56 and is disposed in a plane transverse to the bucket 10. The arm '74 is disposed in parallel relation to the pin 56.

In the position A shown, the empty bucket 10 is ready to close on cargo material after the hinge type latch has been automatically released by contact with the material. In the position B, the loaded bucket is swung from the hold 11 to the hopper 13. In the position C, the bucket 10 is shown dumping after the closing line 43 has been slackened off and the entire load is suspended on the holding line 29. The hinge type latch is urged by the force of gravity and it automatically engages after the bucket 10 is fully open and has discharged its load. The bucket It) remains latched in the open position until it has landed on the material again in position A.

In one complete cycle of operation, the locking mechanism functions in the following manner:

When the bucket 10 is lowered into the hold 11 of a ship, the first thing to strike the material is an adjustable plate connected to a plunger shaft. As the bucket 10 descends, the material exerts an upward pressure on the striking plate which in turn causes the plunger shaft to disengage the hook lock. When the holding line 29 becomes slack, the closing line 43 is taken in. So long as there is sufficient material under the bucket 10 to hold the striking plate up, the hook 79 will be disengaged, allowing the bucket '10 to close. When the bucket 10 is closed on a full load, transferred to the discharge station, and released, the striking plate and plunger drop down by gravity. The lock 70 is again engaged, locking the bucket 10 in the open position ready for another full load pass.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A clamshell bucket comprising two bucket members swingably connected together at a point spaced from the material engaging leading edges of said bucket members, link members connecting said bucket members to a head, means to attach a holding line to said bucket members, means to attach a closing line to said swingably connected ends of said bucket members, means to lock said bucket members in position with the leading edges thereof spaced from each other, said locking means comprising a hook member swingably connected to one said bucket member and a member for engaging said hook member attached to said other bucket member, and an arm swingably connected to one said bucket member and swingable in a plane parallel to the axis of the pivotal connection of said bucket members and swingably connected thereto, said arm having means thereon to engage means on said hook member to force said hook member out of engagement with said member attached to said other bucket member when said arm engages material to be lifted by said bucket, allowing said bucket members to be urged to swing toward each other by said means to attach a closing line.

2. The bucket recited in claim 1 wherein said means to engage said hook member comprises a pin connected to said arm, means on one said bucket member to guide said pin in movement toward said hook member, and lug means on said hook member to engage said pin whereby said hook is forced out of engagement with said member on said other bucket member.

3. The bucket recited in claim 2 wherein a striking plate is attached to said arm, said striking plate having a plurality of spaced holes therein, and a bolt extends through said holes and through holes in said arm whereby said striking plate can be adjusted to bring one edge thereof further removed from said arm so that said striking plate will engage said material to be loaded at a diiferent depth of penetration of said bucket members.

4. A clamshell bucket and an attachment for holding said bucket in open position, in combination therewith, comprising a bucket having two jaw members swingably connected together and swingable about an axis, a swingable arm swingably connected to one said jaw member and extending transversely of said bucket and swingable in a plane parallel to said axis, a hook swingably attached to one said jaw member, a lug on said other jaw member to be engaged by said hook when said bucket is in open position whereby said bucket is held in said open position with the leading edges of said jaw members separated, and means on said arm to engage said hook to force it out of engagement with said lug when said arm engages material to be loaded by said jaw members.

5. The bucket recited in claim 4 wherein said lug is fixed to the same said jaw member that said arm is swingably attached to but on the side remote therefrom.

6. The bucket recited in claim 5 wherein a sheave is attached to said axis and a closing line has one end thereof attached to said jaw members and extends around 6 1 said sheave and is attached to a closing line operating device.

7. A device for holding a clamshell bucket having a first and a second swingably connected bucket member in open position comprising an arm, spaced brackets attached to said first bucket member at one side thereof, a lug on said first bucket member on the opposite side thereof from said brackets, a hook, means to swingably connect said hook to said second bucket member, means on said arm to engage material to be loaded, said hook being positioned to engage said lug when said first and second bucket members are swung away from each other, a pin attached to the distal end of said arm, guiding means on said first bucket member guiding said pin toward said lug, and means on said hook engaging said pin when said material engaging means on said arm engages material to be loaded.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 555,327 McMillan Feb. 25, 1896 611,357 Dembinski Sept. 27, 1898 716,239 Johnson et al. Dec. 16, 1902 1,116,826 Knight Nov. 10, 1914 FOREIGN PATENTS 9,532 Great Britain of 1905 

